Seattle, WA Real Estate Insights

Surrounded by sea, mountains and forest, Seattle doesn't disappoint in visually-appealing views. Although drizzle is common throughout the winter months, summers are typically full of sunshine and warm days, followed by calm evenings with cool breezes coming off the Puget Sound and Lake Washington. Seattle is home to Pike Place Market, a year-round farmer's market near the waterfront, where the very first Starbucks originated. Other notable Seattle attractions include the Space Needle, which originated in 1961 for the Seattle World's Fair, the Fremont Troll, a quirky sculpture underneath the Aurora Bridge, and Mt. Rainier, an active volcano which ascends 14,410 feet above sea level.

Seattle might seem young due to a high number of young tech professionals infiltrating the city limits, but the median age is actually 38 and the median income is $67,253 per year. The median age of homeowners is 58 years old, which is higher than average, but real estate is costly. For-sale inventory dropped 20.02 percent year-over-year in 2015, from 1,089 to 871 listings. Prices escalated between 2014 and 2015, jumping 28.25 percent, which is far beyond the average 10.46 percent year-over-year growth for cities of similar size. The average list price in 2014 was $548,183 and in 2015, grew to $703,029. Although the buying market in Seattle is competitive, Trulia ranks Seattle a 6 out of 6 tiers for active lifestyles, arts, nightlife, restaurants and cafes.